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NFL 2014-2015 Season

Once again it's time for some Football! After the changes made in the off season, I'm seeing Denver and either New Orleans or San Francisco in the Superbowl possibly this year. Denver because of their strong play last season with very little attrition in the off season coupled with this likely being Manning's last year. New Orleans seems to be very hungry to get back to bowl with some strong free agency and draft picks, and San Fran had a strong showing last season with minimal loss impact in the off season.

I'd have to say that more than half the teams in the NFL are in some state of rebuild this season, which I haven't seen since the 80's. That's not really a bad thing, considering we could see some very strong football in the coming years. Anyone remember when a 10-6 record wouldn't get you even a wild card slot 10 years ago?

The division to watch this year is my very own AFC North. All four teams did major overhauls with some very nice draft picks and productive free agencies. While I wouldn't give any one of them the edge to take the division, I'd say the Raven's show more promise than the other three, but just barely in my mind. Not sure that translates out to an actuality though.

Should be a fun season IMO, but not spectacular as in past ones.

Brian Baldwin

Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I shall fear no evil.... For I am the meanest S.O.B. in the valley.

"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in... And how many want out." - Tony Blair on America

It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.

-Father Denis O'Brien of the United States Marine Corp.

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Re: NFL 2014-2015 Season

A really great showing by the Bengals against the Ravens today! Was a little disappointed to see them slack off after going into halftime 15-0, turning the second half into a nail biter but, overall they played a pretty good game especially against such a big division rival.

Didn't catch much of the Steelers-Browns game except the highlights that were shown but that looked very exciting. It certainly appeared that the Brownies brought their A-Game and nearly took down your Steelers Brian!

Looks like the AFC North division may well have some strong contenders this year if the trend continues.

Re: NFL 2014-2015 Season

Video of Ray Rice's attack on his then-fiancee apparently was the last straw for the Baltimore Ravens, who announced Monday afternoon they've terminated the embattled running back's contract.

Rice, a three-time Pro Bowler and who helped Baltimore to a Super Bowl title in the 2012 season, was charged with third-degree aggravated assault following a Feb. 15 incident at a casino in Atlantic City, N.J., in which he alleged knocked out his then fiancé and now wife, Janay Palmer (now Janay Rice).

Initially, Rice and Palmer both were charged with simple assault. The Atlantic County prosecutor's office later dropped the charge against her. In March, Rice was indicted by a grant jury on the more serious charge of third-degree assault. The charge carried a potential sentence of three to five years in prison. After the indictment, Rice and Palmer married.

In May, Rice entered a program for first-time offenders that would clear his record of the criminal charge if he met certain conditions, including participation in counseling.

On July 24, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell imposed a two-game suspension on Rice at the start of the regular season. Rice missed the Ravens Sunday opening loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and will miss Thursday night's game in Baltimore against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

On Aug. 28, the NFL introduced new, standardized penalties for domestic violence: a six-game suspension for a first offense and an indefinite suspension of at least one year for a second offense. Goodell, who had been criticized on grounds that the suspension was too lenient, said at that time, "I didn't get it right. Simply put, we have to do better, and we will."

Amid initial July 24 reports of the impending Rice suspension, Harbaugh addressed the matter at training camp. "It's really not a big deal. It's just part of the process. We said from the beginning the circumstances would determine the consequences. There are consequences when you make a mistake like that. I stand behind Ray [Rice] – he's a heck of a guy," Harbaugh said then. "He's done everything right since. He makes a mistake; he's going to have to pay a consequence."

Since the NFL imposed standardized penalties, two NFL player have been arrested on domestic violence charges.

On Aug. 31, wide receiver Quincy Enunwa, a practice squad player with the New York Jets, was arrested in Florham Park, N.J., on a charge of simple assault following an alleged domestic violence dispute with his girlfriend, according to the Florham Park Police Department.

Also that day, defensive tackle Ray McDonald of the San Francisco 49ers was arrested on domestic violence charges following an alleged incident at his 30th birthday party.

Goodell said recently that for the league to impose discipline a person would have to be "not only charged, but we would wait for the legal system to complete its process, particularly in any case on a first (offender). That's something that's very important to us."

Libertatem Prius!

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Re: NFL 2014-2015 Season

According to NBC’s Peter King and ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, NFL officials called teams around the league to gauge interest in signing Michael Sam to their practice squad.

Yesterday, the Dallas Cowboys signed Sam, who is trying to become the first openly gay player in NFL history.

King reported this during the pre-game show on NBC prior to the Seahawks/Packers season opener Thursday night.

“The Rams waived Michael Sam, the first openly gay player trying to make an NFL roster, he was unemployed for two days,” King said. “During that time a league official contacted multiple teams asking if they had evaluated Sam as a probable practice squad player.”

“Now Sam and the NFL avoided a nightmare situation when he signed with the practice squad of the Dallas Cowboys.”

This report, that is surely to upset other players vying for NFL practice squads around the league, was initially reported by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith on yesterday’s edition of “First Take.”

“According to sources I have in the NFL, the league did call a few teams. They did want teams to take Michael Sam because obviously we see what kind of movement they’re gearing for, and what they’re support of Michael Sam, who we all know, came out, acknowledged he was gay before the draft and ultimately something Roger Goodell and the NFL supports and they want their teams to support. But other teams weren’t too receptive to taking him on once the St. Louis Rams cut him,” reported the ESPN talking head.

“So in steps, Jerry Jones coming to the aid of the NFL and making a splash with his willingness to bring this guy on board to the practice squad.”

“Kudos to Jerry Jones because it just shows he’s willing to be a team player. it shows that even though he’s a hype machine or what have you, in the end, he’s willing to do what he believes, and what the league believes to be in the best interest of the league,” Smith added.

Re: NFL 2014-2015 Season

Hoping Goodell steps down and Condi Rice takes over. Never cared for Goodell.

Brian Baldwin

Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I shall fear no evil.... For I am the meanest S.O.B. in the valley.

"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in... And how many want out." - Tony Blair on America

It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.

-Father Denis O'Brien of the United States Marine Corp.

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The award for worst fan of Week 11 officially goes to the Saints fan you see below.

After Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham scored a touchdown in the third quarter against the Saints, he casually tossed the ball to the only Bengals fan he saw: A woman in an A.J. Green jersey.

The woman won't be taking the ball home though because this happened.

The Saints fan decided he wanted the ball more and ripped it away from her. Chivalry is still alive and well in New Orleans. The two fan bases already don't like each other because of the whole 'Who Dey' vs. 'Who Dat' thing, now they have another reason to dislike each other.

To be fair to the Saints fan though, what he did was arguably more impressive than anything the Saints did on defense in the first half. Also, he says he has an explanation for keeping the ball.

Tony Willams said he’s been sitting in that seat since the Superdome opened & he’s not giving up that ball